by The American Quarter Horse Journal

The world’s largest, single-breed world championship horse show, open exclusively to amateur exhibitors age 50 and older, kicks off August 28 at the  Amarillo National Center in Amarillo, Texas. The show is free and open to the public.

The 2011 Adequan Select World will host 1,290 riders from the United States, Canada and – for the first time ever – Argentina, who have come to compete for more than $520,000 in prize money in addition to custom-designed trophies, Montana Silversmiths champion belt buckles, logoed Cripple Creek jackets and the honor of being crowned an American Quarter Horse Association world champion.

The select division is only for amateur AQHA members who are 50 years of age or older on or before August 1 of the qualifying year. Amateur exhibitors are American Quarter Horse owners who do not join the professional ranks. The Adequan Select World is open to those exhibitors who have qualified for the event by earning a predetermined number of points throughout the year to secure a spot in each of the classes.

The show features 41 classes, representing English, western and halter disciplines. The Amarillo economy will get an expected $7.1 million boost during the show’s eight-day run.

AQHA initiated a new program this year in which the top three Intermediate exhibitors in each class will be recognized at all four world championship shows. An Intermediate exhibitor is an exhibitor who has never placed in the top 10 at an AQHA world show in the particular class in which they are competing.

Just as with the championship titles, three Intermediate awards will be given – champion, reserve champion and third place. The Intermediate awards program allows more exhibitors to be recognized during AQHA world championship competition.

The American Quarter Horse Journal will provide extensive online coverage of the Adequan Select World. Be sure to catch the  live action in the arena on the Pfizer Animal Health webcam, hosted by  America’s Horse TV. A special wrap-up of the show will air on  RFD-TV at 10 p.m. EST on October 6. Complete coverage of the show will be featured in the October 2011 issue of the  Journal Plus, the digital supplement to The American Quarter Horse Journal that is free to all Journal subscribers and which can be found at  www.aqha.com. Photos of the Adequan Select World champions will be published in the November issue of the Journal.

The Adequan Select World Championship Show is made possible by AQHA Corporate Partners Adequan, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bank of America, Farnam, John Deere, Markel, Merial, Montana Silversmiths, Nutrena and SmartPak.

The excitement takes place August 28 – September 3.

For more information contact Jeannie Blancq, director of communications and special events at (806) 341-5252 or [email protected]. For additional news, updates and special offers, become a fan of AQHA on Facebook or follow on  Twitter.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, Journal Plus, Q-Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit  AQHA Publications.